S-100 protein: an immunohistochemical study of fetal eccrine sweat glands and of sweat gland adenomas

Abstract

This chapter presents an immunohistochemical study of fetal eccrine sweat glands and of sweat-gland adenomas. An unlabelled antibody peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) technique was carried out. Paraffin sections dewaxed in xylol and rehydrated in alcohol were incubated for 18 h at 58°C. 0.3% hydrogen peroxide in methanol was applied for 30 min to block endogenous peroxidase activity. Rabbit anti-S-100 protein 1:800 was applied for 30 min. Swine anti-rabbit IgG 1:20 was applied for 30 min. Rabbit PAP complex was added at a dilution of 1:100 for 30 min. The diaminobenzidine reaction was run for 6 min with hydrogen peroxide. The tissues were counterstained with hematoxylin for 10 min, and were dehydrated and mounted. S-100 protein was detected in cutaneous nerves of all skin specimens. It was not observed in fetal epidermal cells, acrosyringeal or ductal cells. As the primitive eccrine coil formed, S-100 protein immunopositivity was found overlying the nucleus of single cells in the coil.